Page 46 of Sassy & Sixty

"Right," Emma announced, placing a violently orange concoction in front of Rosie. "Drink up, darling. Nothing like a little liquid courage to kick-start the decision-making process."

Rosie eyed the drink warily. "Emma, I'm not sure getting sozzled before noon."

Emma waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. Some of my best decisions were made under the influence. Did I ever tell youabout the time I decided to take up pole dancing? Granted, I couldn't walk properly for a week afterwards, but the paramedic was very handsome."

"Ladies," Lisa interrupted, placing a platter of what appeared to be gourmet avocado toast on the table, "perhaps we should focus on Rosie's dilemma? Derek or Mike?"

Rosie groaned, burying her face in her hands. "When you put it like that, I feel like I'm on some terrible reality dating show. 'The Sexagenarian Bachelorette.'"

"Ooh, I'd watch that," Julie piped up. "Imagine the cocktail parties. Instead of roses, you could hand out... I don't know, reading glasses?"

"Or tubes of arthritis cream," Catherine added, warming to the theme. "'

As her friends dissolved into giggles, Lisa fought to instil some order.

"Alright, alright. Let's approach this logically. Rosie, why don't you tell us how you feel about Derek?"

Rosie took a sip of her mimosa (which was, predictably, about 90% champagne) and considered the question. "Derek... well, there's history there. Thirty years of marriage, raising Mary together. He knows me better than anyone."

"But?" Emma prompted.

"But," Rosie continued, "when I think about going back to that life... it feels like putting on an old sweater. Comfortable, familiar, but maybe not quite the right fit anymore."

Her friends nodded encouragingly.

"And Mike?" Catherine asked gently.

Rosie felt a smile tugging at her lips. "Mike is... he's unexpected. He makes me feel like I'm discovering parts of myself I didn't even know existed. But it's also scary. Starting something new at our age..."

"Oh, pish posh," Emma interjected. "Age is just a number. And in our case, it's a number that comes with a free bus pass and excellent discounts at garden centres."

This set off another round of laughter, but Rosie appreciated the sentiment behind Emma's words.

"The thing is," Rosie continued, "it's not just about choosing between Derek and Mike. It's about choosing who I want to be at this stage of my life."

Lisa nodded sagely. "That's very insightful, Rosie. So, who do you want to be?"

Rosie stood up, pacing the kitchen as she tried to articulate the thoughts that had been swirling in her mind. "I want to be someone who isn't afraid to take risks. Someone who embraces new experiences. I want to be the kind of woman who... who joins a salsa class on a whim, or decides to learn Mandarin just because she can."

"That's the spirit!" Emma cheered, raising her mimosa glass. "Live a little! Or in our case, live a lot in whatever time we've got left before our hips give out entirely."

"Emma!" Catherine admonished, but she was smiling.

Rosie continued, warming to her theme. "When I was with Derek, I was always somebody's wife, somebody's mother. And those are important parts of who I am, but they're not all of me. These past few months, being with you lot," she gestured to her friends, "I've remembered that I'm also just Rosie. And I like her. I like who I am when I'm not trying to fit into someone else's idea of who I should be."

There was a moment of silence as her words sank in. Then Julie spoke up, her voice uncharacteristically serious. "Rosie, my dear, I think you've just made your decision."

Rosie blinked, realising Julie was right. Somehow, in trying to explain her feelings to her friends, she'd clarified them for herself as well.

"I have, haven't I?" she said, a sense of relief washing over her. "I'm not going back to Derek. I'm moving forward."

The kitchen erupted in cheers. Emma, in her enthusiasm, knocked over her mimosa, creating a sticky orange puddle on the table.

"Oh, botheration," Emma muttered, attempting to mop up the spill with what turned out to be one of Julie's "artistic" napkin creations. "Sorry about that. But more importantly - Rosie! Our girl's choosing adventure over arthritis cream! This calls for more champagne!"

As Emma bustled about, replenishing glasses and narrowly avoiding setting her sleeve on fire with the toaster, Lisa turned to Rosie with a warm smile. "I'm proud of you, Rosie. It takes courage to choose the unknown over the familiar."

Rosie felt a lump form in her throat. "Thank you," she said softly. "I couldn't have done it without all of you. You've shown me that life doesn't end at sixty. It just... gets more interesting."

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